News in brief

Bookies bet on a new bank holiday next year

Bookmakers have cut the odds on a new bank holiday being created next year from 20-1 to 10-1. "With a general election not that far away, Brown needs brownie points, and creating a new bank holiday is an easy win," said Rupert Adams, of William Hill.

Obama ancestor's will

An ancestor of Barack Obama was a farm labourer in Stapleford in Nottinghamshire who left a shilling to his son in a will, it has been revealed. Experts believe Peter Blossom's son, Thomas, was born around 1580 and later emigrated to America.

Two held after bar death

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder after an incident outside a bar in Manchester resulted in a man's death. Officers were called to the Pitcher and Piano bar in Deansgate Locks at 4am yesterday morning.

British skiers injured

Seven people have been injured after a bus carrying British students back from a ski trip in Austria overturned in northern France.

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One of Britain's last surviving first world war veterans has died aged 108 in a Lancashire care home. Netherwood "Ned" Hughes was called up in 1918.